Ultimate Spicy Chicken & Black Bean Nachos

Ultimate Spicy Chicken & Black Bean Nachos combine tender shredded rotisserie chicken, savory black beans, sturdy tortilla chips, and two kinds of melted cheese for an irresistible loaded nacho appetizer. They're easy to assemble and bake, making these chicken and black bean nachos a great choice for game day, parties, or Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Add guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños, pico de gallo, or your favorite toppings to create a sheet pan of nachos everyone will love.

Why You'll Love Ultimate Spicy Chicken & Black Bean Nachos

• Rotisserie chicken makes them incredibly easy. Using shredded rotisserie chicken eliminates the need to cook chicken from scratch, making these loaded chicken nachos a quick and convenient appetizer when you're short on time.

• They're perfect for feeding a crowd. A large sheet pan of chicken and black bean nachos makes an easy game day appetizer, party snack, or Cinco de Mayo dish that guests can customize with their favorite toppings.

• Cleanup is quick and easy. Baking the nachos on a foil-lined sheet pan means less mess and makes it easy to take the pan straight from the oven to the table.

• You can make them as spicy as you like. The chipotle peppers and taco sauce add a delicious kick, while the toppings bar lets everyone customize their own nachos with fresh jalapeños, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, and more.

Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a half-sheet pan with nonstick aluminum foil (I like to use Reynolds Non-Stick Grill Foil - it's extra-wide and heavy-duty) and set the pan aside until ready to use. Place shredded rotisserie chicken in a large microwave-proof bowl, then stir in taco seasoning, finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and taco sauce.

2. Then, gently stir in drained and rinsed black beans.

3. Heat the mixture in the microwave for about three minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until warmed.

4. Spread half of the tortilla chips on the prepared pan.

5. Put on a pair of vinyl gloves and sprinkle half of the warmed chicken mixture over the tortilla chips. Use your hands to break the mixture apart so it distributes evenly.

6. Mix together freshly shredded pepper jack and extra sharp cheddar cheeses. Then sprinkle half of the cheese mixture over the chicken and chips.

7. Next, layer the remaining tortilla chips on top.

8. Sprinkle the remaining chicken mixture over the tortilla chips. Use your hands to break the mixture apart so it distributes evenly.

9. Then, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the chicken and chips. Bake in a 400°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and begun to slightly brown.

10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

11. Add your favorite toppings, or set up a toppings bar so that everyone can customize their own nachos. I like to top the whole pan with guacamole, sour cream, and freshly minced cilantro. Then set up a toppings bar with pico de gallo, fresh jalapeño slices, black olive slices, pickled jalapeño slices, chopped tomatoes, diced avocados, and chopped scallions.

Toppings Bar Options

If you're looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer, Ultimate Spicy Chicken & Black Bean Nachos deliver layers of spicy rotisserie chicken, black beans, crispy tortilla chips, and gooey melted cheese in every bite. These loaded chicken nachos are baked on a sheet pan and finished with fresh toppings, making them ideal for game day, parties, and Cinco de Mayo. With bold flavor, minimal prep, and plenty of ways to customize them, this chicken nachos recipe is one you'll want to make again and again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Layer the nachos for even coverage. Build the nachos in two layers, dividing the chicken and black bean mixture and shredded cheese between the layers so the toppings are distributed throughout the pan instead of sitting only on top.

• Use bite-size pieces of rotisserie chicken. Smaller pieces of shredded chicken distribute more evenly over the tortilla chips, helping ensure that every bite has plenty of flavorful chicken.

• Use a large sheet pan. A half-sheet pan gives the tortilla chips plenty of room to spread out, allowing the nachos to bake evenly and making it easier to create two well-balanced layers.

• Let the nachos cool briefly before serving. Allow the baked nachos to rest for about five minutes before adding the toppings and serving. This gives the melted cheese a chance to settle while keeping the chips sturdy.